Importance of wheelchair adjustment in developing independent movement skills of persons with spinal cord injury

The article deals with the relation between wheelchair adjustment and developing independent movement skills of persons with spinal cord injury. 38 persons (wheelchair users, 4 female and 34 male) with spinal cord injury were tested in the Monciškės Landscape Therapy and Recreation Centre in 2010. The age of the subjects ranged from 18 to 48 years, post spinal cord injury time – up to 5 years. The effect of two horizontal wheelchair adjustment possibilities (high and low sitting position and vertical adjustment) on biosocial skills of persons with spinal cord injuries was investigated. According to the level of spinal cord injury the subjects were divided into two groups: severe disabilities, e. i. with upper thoracic spinal cord injury (Th1–7), and moderate disabilities, e. i. lower thoracic spinal cord injury (Th8–12) and lumbar part spinal cord injury. The results revealed that the back position of the main wheels improved the ability of persons with severe disabilities in overcoming obstacles. The front position of the main wheels improved the wheelchair manoeuvring and driving skills of persons with severe injury. The front position of the main wheels improved the wheelchair management skills of persons with moderate disabilities